Wagon-brake.



No. 816,099. K PATBNTEDQMAR. 27, 190

- W. F. JENNINGS.

WAGON BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1905.

J nventor;

P I by Attorneys.

I I ber, logs, and the like, there is no means pro- UNITED s'rA-rns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. JENNINGSQ F nor SPRINGS, ARKANsAs.

' WAGON-BRAKE I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

T0 all whom it may concern: c

Be'it known that I, WILLIAM F.JENNrNGs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Wagon-Brake, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wagon-brakes, and more particularly to that class employed upon farm-wagons. I

As is well known, the rack-plate that holds the brakelever in adjusted position is secured to the body of the wagon and when the body is removed from the running-gear, as when the latter is employed in haulinglumvided whereby the brake-shoes may be looked against the wheels, so that when thedriver is holding the brakes applied by hand should the horses become fractious it will the path of the ratchet-teeth, a leaf-spring 9' necessitate him releasing his hold upon the I lever, and thereby free the brake-shoes from the wheels. Moreover, under the arrangement just described the driver is compelled to exert considerable power'to hold the shoes against the wheels with sufficient pressure to secure the requisite braking action.

It is the object of the present invention in a novel, simple, and practical manner to effect application of thebrakes and to hold them applied without any strain orlabor on the part of the driver until such time as i t is desired to release them and to effect the release in a manner that will at once be positive and easy. v 7

With the above and other objectsin view,

, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of-parts of a wagon-brake as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

, wagon, showing the brake mechanismof the- In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the rear portion of the running-gear of a present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a'view in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the brakeapplying mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation.

Referring to the drawings, R designates generally the rear portion ofthe runninggear of a farm wagon, and B the brake-shoes,

which, as usual, are carried by a beam 1), that secured to the terminal of the rod adjacent connecting-links 2 in the ordinary manners Keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to one end of the rod 1 is aratchet plate or wheel 3 and to the wheel'is a lever 4, which is held combined with the rod by' squaring the terminal of the latter, providing the lever with a squared opening to engage the parts, and then holding the lever and rod assembled by a .nut 5. The ratchet-wheel has only a portion of its periphery toothed and in addition to the teeth is provided with a pawl-rest 6, the perimeter of which is curved, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose that will be hereinafter described. Coaoting with the ratchetwheel is a pawl 7, which is pivotally connected with a yoke 8, rigidly secured in a downwardly-inclined position upon the rear bolster 12 In order to hold the pawl normally out of is provided, one end of which is secured at 10 to the pawl and the other endof which there will always be more or less strain upon the spring when the pawl is not in engagement with the ratchet-teeth, the pawl-rest 6 is provided to obviate this, it being seen that when the ratchet-wheel is in inoperative posi tion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pawl will bear'upon the crest of the pawl-rest, and thus keep the spring practically free from contact with the yoke.

The means for bringing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet-wheel when the brake is applied consists of a rope or other flexible lever-operating member 11, one end 'of which is secured to a screw-eye or staple 12, carried by the upper side of the pawl, thence passed through an eye 13,carried by a collar 14, loosely mounted on the shaft between the ratchet-wheel 3. and lever 4, and through an eye or keeper 15, carried by the. inner side of the upper extremity of the lever,

vwhile the other end of the member is secured at 16 to the upper extremity of the lever, the bend of the member 11 being disposed at the front of the wagon and adjacent to the driver. In the operation, of the device when the brakes are to be applied the lead 17 of the member 11 is drawn upon, thereby moving the lever 4 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, causing the pawl to l ave the pawlrest and to be supported by thdbpring 9 'over the ratchet-wheel, but out of contact therethereby performs the function designed. As

Y the rod, and means connecting with the pawl with. Upon further draft being applied to the lead 17 the lead 18 is placed under tension, thereby drawing the pawl down into engagement with the ratchetteeth and causing it to interlock therewith and retain the ratchet-wheel in its adjusted position when the lead 18 is released. To release the brakes, the lead 17 is drawn upon, thereby leaving the lead 18 loose, whereupon the spring 9 will exert its function and throw the pawl upward out of engagement with the ratchetwheel. It will then be free to return to its normal position.

It will be seen from the arrangement described that by the employment of the improvements herein defined the brake-shoes can be held positively applied when the body of the wagon is removed, thereby relieving the driver from the labor of holding the brakes applied, which, as pointed out, is necessary with the arrangements now in common use.

Having thus described is claimed is 1. The combination with a brake-beamoperating rod, of a ratchet member rigid therewith, a pawl normally out of engagement With the member, a lever for operating the invention, what and the lever to eiTect movement of the latter to actuate the ratchet member and independently thereof to bring the pawl into engagement therewith.

2. The combination with a brake-beamoperating rod, of a ratchet member including a pawl-rest, a pawl normally in engagement with the rest, a lever for operating the ratchet member, and means connecting with awl and the lever to effect movement of i the atter to actuate the ratchet member and l independently thereof to bring the pawl into engagement with the member.

3. The combination with a brake-beamoperating rod, of a ratchet member rigid therewith, a pawl normally out of engagement with the ratchet member, and a flexible operating member, one terminal of which is connected with the pawl and the other terminal with the lever.

4. The combination with a brake-beanioperating rod, of a ratchet member and lever rigid therewith, a yieldingly-supported pawl normally out of engagement with the ratchet member, a collar loosely mounted upon the rod and provided with an eye, and a flexible operating member having one terminal passed through the eye and secured to the pawl and the other terminal secured to the free end of the lever.

5. The combination with a brakebeamoperating rod, of a ratchet member and lever rigid therewith, a yoke supported adjacent to the ratchet member, a pawl pivotally connected with the yoke and carryinga spring to engage the under side thereof to hold. the pawl normally out of engagement with the ratchet member, a collar loosely mounted upon the rod and provided with an eye, and a flexible operating member having one terminal passed through the eye and operatively connected with the free end of the pawl and its other terminal secured to the free end of the lever.

In testimony that I claim the 'foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

CURRY SUDDETH, PETER NELsoN. 

